AMD Ryzen 5 5500U vs AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 Comparison

The benchmark data presents a clear split between these two Zen 2 processors. The AMD Ryzen 5 5500U is the decisive performance winner in the vast majority of tests, taking 14 of 15 head-to-head comparisons, while the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 counters with a single but significant victory in Cinebench R23 multi-core. The Ryzen 5 5500U is the better choice for general productivity, single-threaded tasks, and content creation workloads that rely on the PassMark suite, while the Embedded V2546 offers a higher base clock, more PCIe lanes, and ECC memory support for industrial and always-on applications where those features matter more than raw benchmark dominance.

The Verdict

Pick the AMD Ryzen 5 5500U if you need the faster all-around processor for everyday computing, office work, and media tasks. It wins 14 of the 15 shared benchmarks, with margins ranging from a narrow 1.2% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core to a massive 52.6% advantage in Cinebench R15 single-core. Its average benchmark score of 14,589 places it at the 69th percentile of all CPUs, essentially tied with the AMD EPYC 7473X (14,574, 0.1% delta) and the Intel Core i5-9600K (14,605, -0.1% delta), showing it punches near desktop-class levels despite its 15W TDP mobile design.

Choose the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 only when specific platform requirements override raw performance. It wins Cinebench R23 multi-core with a score of 8,207 versus 7,186 for the 5500U, a 12.4% margin, and it supports ECC memory, a feature absent on the 5500U. It also provides 20 PCIe Gen 3 lanes versus 12, making it more suitable for embedded systems with multiple expansion cards. Its average benchmark score of 14,336 puts it in the same 69th percentile, but its nearest rival is the lower-end AMD Ryzen 3 7320C (14,277, 0.4% delta), indicating it sits slightly below the 5500U in overall positioning.

The data does not support choosing the Embedded V2546 for general performance. In PassMark multi-thread, the 5500U scores 12,831 versus 9,656, a 32.9% lead, and in integer math it wins by 47.2% (45,258 vs 30,739). The 5500U is the superior processor for anyone who values speed, while the V2546 is a niche pick for embedded deployments needing ECC and extra I/O.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5500U boosts to 4.00 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 boosts to 3.95 GHz. The 5500U’s boost is only 0.05 GHz higher, but it also has a much lower base clock of 2.10 GHz versus 3.00 GHz on the V2546.

Q: How do the two compare in single-threaded performance?

A: The Ryzen 5 5500U is clearly ahead. It wins Cinebench R15 single-core by 52.6% (177 vs 116), PassMark single-thread by 50.3% (2,419 vs 1,609), and Cinebench R23 single-core by 1.2% (1,172 vs 1,158). The 5500U’s single-thread advantage is consistent across all available tests.

Q: Does either processor support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 supports ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen 5 5500U does not support ECC memory. This is a key differentiator for embedded or server-like workloads where data integrity is critical.

Q: What is the biggest performance margin in the head-to-head results?

A: The largest margin is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Ryzen 5 5500U scores 177 versus 116 for the V2546, a 52.6% lead. The second-largest is Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the 5500U wins by 50.8% (1,247 vs 827).

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 has 20 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD Ryzen 5 5500U has 12 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only). The V2546 offers 66.7% more lanes, which is significant for embedded boards with multiple controllers.

Q: Are these processors on the same manufacturing node?

A: Yes, both are built on TSMC’s 7 nm process node. They also share the same transistor count of 9,800 million and the same die size of 156 mm².

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on the same Zen 2 architecture, but they belong to different codenames and generations. The AMD Ryzen 5 5500U is from the 5000 series, codenamed Lucienne, while the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 is from the 2000 series, codenamed Renoir. Despite the different codenames, both use the same 7 nm TSMC process, the same 9,800 million transistors, and the same 156 mm² die size. The cache hierarchy is identical: 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache.

The integrated graphics differ. The 5500U features Radeon Graphics with 448 shader processors (SP), while the V2546 has Radeon Graphics with 384 SP. This gives the 5500U a 16.7% advantage in GPU shader count, which aligns with its better overall benchmark performance. The memory support is the same on paper — DDR4 with dual-channel and 51.2 GB/s bandwidth — but the V2546 adds ECC memory support, a feature absent on the 5500U. The PCIe configuration also differs: the V2546 has 20 Gen 3 lanes versus 12 on the 5500U, reflecting its embedded target market where more I/O is required.

The market segments are explicit in the data: the 5500U is a Mobile processor, while the V2546 is a Desktop (Embedded) processor. The V2546 has a higher TDP of 35W versus 15W for the 5500U, which explains its higher base clock of 3.00 GHz versus 2.10 GHz. The release dates differ by about two months, with the V2546 launching on 2020-11-09 and the 5500U on 2021-01-11.

Specification Differences

The two processors share the same core count (6 cores, 12 threads), the same socket (AMD Socket FP6), the same architecture (Zen 2), the same process node (7 nm), the same foundry (TSMC), and identical cache sizes (64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, 8 MB shared L3). They also have the same memory support (DDR4), memory bus (dual-channel), and memory bandwidth (51.2 GB/s). Neither has an unlocked multiplier, and both are listed as Active in production.

The key specification differences are as follows:

• Base Clock: 2.10 GHz (5500U) vs 3.00 GHz (V2546)
• Boost Clock: 4.00 GHz (5500U) vs 3.95 GHz (V2546)
• TDP: 15W (5500U) vs 35W (V2546)
• ECC Memory: False (5500U) vs True (V2546)
• PCIe Lanes: 12 Gen 3 lanes (5500U) vs 20 Gen 3 lanes (V2546)
• Integrated Graphics: Radeon Graphics 448SP (5500U) vs Radeon Graphics 384SP (V2546)
• Market Segment: Mobile (5500U) vs Desktop (V2546)
• Series: 5000 series (5500U) vs 2000 series (V2546)
• Codename: Lucienne (5500U) vs Renoir (V2546)
• Part Number: 100-000000375 (5500U) vs 100-000000246 (V2546)

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are overwhelmingly one-sided. The Ryzen 5 5500U wins every PassMark test and both Cinebench R15 tests, while the V2546 takes only Cinebench R23 multi-core. The 5500U’s largest wins come in the older Cinebench R15 suite: it scores 1,247 versus 827 in multi-core (50.8% lead) and 177 versus 116 in single-core (52.6% lead). These are the two biggest margins in the entire comparison, indicating that the 5500U has a substantial advantage in lightly-threaded and moderately-threaded legacy workloads.

In the PassMark suite, the 5500U’s dominance is consistent and pronounced. It wins floating-point math by 40.4% (26,029 vs 18,534), integer math by 47.2% (45,258 vs 30,739), and data compression by 28.3% (174,584 vs 136,097). The 5500U also leads in data encryption by 29.3% (10,405 vs 8,046), extended instructions by 23.2% (10,838 vs 8,799), and random string sorting by 36.7% (19,035 vs 13,926). Even in the smaller tests, the 5500U wins: find prime numbers by 18.2% (26 vs 22) and physics by 20.9% (533 vs 441). The PassMark multi-thread score of 12,831 versus 9,656 (32.9% lead) confirms the 5500U is the stronger multi-core processor overall.

The single V2546 victory in Cinebench R23 multi-core is notable. The V2546 scores 8,207 versus 7,186 for the 5500U, a 12.4% margin. This result is puzzling given the 5500U’s 32.9% lead in PassMark multi-thread, but it suggests the V2546’s higher base clock of 3.00 GHz helps in sustained long-duration rendering workloads where the 5500U’s 15W TDP may limit boost behavior. However, this single win does not offset the broader trend. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the 5500U still wins by 1.2% (1,172 vs 1,158), showing it retains the single-thread edge even in the newer benchmark.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500U wins in every category except one. It is the clear choice for:

• Single-threaded performance: Wins Cinebench R15 single-core by 52.6%, PassMark single-thread by 50.3%, and Cinebench R23 single-core by 1.2%.
• General multi-threaded work: Wins PassMark multi-thread by 32.9% and Cinebench R15 multi-core by 50.8%.
• Math and encryption workloads: Wins floating-point math by 40.4%, integer math by 47.2%, and data encryption by 29.3%.
• Data-heavy tasks: Wins data compression by 28.3% and random string sorting by 36.7%.
• Legacy benchmark compatibility: Its strong Cinebench R15 results suggest better performance in older software that relies on that benchmark’s workload characteristics.

The AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 wins in:

• Cinebench R23 multi-core: Scores 8,207 versus 7,186, a 12.4% margin, indicating it may sustain higher clocks in long rendering sessions.
• Platform features: ECC memory support and 20 PCIe Gen 3 lanes are exclusive to the V2546, making it the only option for systems requiring these capabilities.
• Higher base clock: At 3.00 GHz versus 2.10 GHz, the V2546 offers a 42.9% higher baseline frequency, which can matter in always-on embedded workloads that never boost.

The data shows the 5500U is the superior processor for virtually all performance-sensitive use cases. The V2546’s single benchmark win and its platform-level features (ECC, more PCIe lanes) are the only reasons to select it, and those are niche requirements tied to embedded system design rather than raw computing power. For a laptop or mobile workstation, the 5500U is the unambiguous pick; for a fanless industrial controller needing ECC and expansion, the V2546 has a defensible role despite its lower benchmark scores.